Examines the relationships among gender, gender identity, and coping in late adolescents. Females endorsed greater use of emotion-focused coping strategies than males. Late adolescents who were high in masculinity endorsed higher levels of problem-focused coping strategies. Overall, gender identity made an important and independent contribution to…

Reviews research concerned with stress and coping during adolescence, using depression as example of consequence of stress and coping processes. Hypothesizes that exposure to and appraisals of interpersonal stress combine with aspects of biological development and use of maladaptive coping strategies to account for emergence of significant gender…

Reviews individual coping theory and family stress theory to provide a theoretical foundation for assessing adolescent coping. Presents development and testing of an adolescent self-report coping inventory, the Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences. Gender differences in coping styles are discussed. (Author/NB)

Examined coping of adolescents (n=871) presented with hypothetical situation of friend with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and compared subjects with sample (n=472) responding to hypothetical situation of suicidal peer. Found more distress in girls for AIDS problem, more distress in boys for suicide problem. Adolescents were more…

Rural/urban differences were studied in self-reported stress, coping, and behavioral problems in adolescents. Levels of stress and ways of coping were similar between the two groups. However, urban males reported more conflict and externalizing behaviors than females and rural males. Results suggest that adolescents may utilize many coping…

Examined research involving over 3,000 adolescents from various cultures to determine problems typical of this developmental phase and ways of coping with normative demands. Found that adolescents' response to problems stemming from different developmental fields such as parents, peers, school, or future involved three main modes of coping: Active…

Obtained data from 603 questionnaires and 60 interviews from male and female Italian adolescents on awareness of physical maturation, heterosexual relationships, motivation for early sexual experiences, and effects on personal identity. Found significant differences concerning sex and level of schooling with regard to elaboration of one's…

Compared decision coping patterns of Israeli (n=1,028) and Australian (n=428) high school students. Israelis scored higher than Australians on Self-Confidence as decision makers and Vigilance and lower on Evasive behavior in decision making. In both samples, males outscored girls on Self-Confidence as decision makers and on Complacency and scored…

Elicited spontaneous responses from, and administered modified form of Ways of Coping Checklist to 650 adolescents. Found clear differences between how boys and girls cope. Compared to boys, girls sought more social support, were more likely to focus on relationships, and employed more strategies related to hoping for the best and wishful…

Among 1,493 adolescents ages 14-20 years, the lower the social group, the higher the average neurotic defense style score. Boys had higher scores of mature defense styles than girls. Among boys who had lost their father, lower social class was related to immaturity. Social class differences in defense styles may partly explain later differences in…

Examined role of close relationships during adolescence and their contribution to individual coping. Data from series of studies on early adolescents showed that availability of family and peers combined with support of adolescent's independence contributed to individual adaptive coping. Contribution of close relationships to coping differed for…

Australian secondary students completed questionnaires on adolescent coping behavior. Found that older students used more self-blame and tension-reduction techniques than did younger students; young students used more work-related strategies than did older students; males reported using more physical recreation than did females; and females used…

School-aged adolescents (n=1,013) were asked to identify a recent and very distressing problem, problem type, and who or whether they asked for help. Most problems related to interpersonal relationships, education, and health. Help-seeking behavior was found to be predicted by problem type and gender but not year level or problem characteristics.…

Focused on mental health and protective factors in early adolescence. Significant relations between coping strategies and mental health were found, which are different according to gender: girls invest in more social relations, negative feelings, and consumption habits; boys often use sense of humor, or practice a hobby or sport. (JBJ)

In this introduction to the special journal issue on stress and coping, stress and coping theory is reviewed. Notes that issue is devoted to coping with stressors during transition of adolescence; age and gender differences in stress and coping; influence of close relationship as stress buffer; relationship between coping and adaption; and…